When you’re looking to buy a new home or sell the one you’re in, there’s no question that finding the right Realtor can make a huge difference! Qualified real estate professionals can make the tedious process feel so easy. But with so many agents out there today, how can you choose the right Realtor for you? Here are 5 tips!
1 – Choose a Realtor, not a real estate agent.
What’s the difference between a real estate agent and a Realtor? All Realtors are real estate agents, but not all real estate agents are Realtors. To gain the title of “Realtor”, an agent must apply and be accepted into the National Association of Realtors. Realtors take a pledge to hold themselves to a strong Code of Ethics! Not only is it an honor to have this title, but it means the agent has access to all sorts of tools, training, and other benefits that can help their customers out!
2 – Find a local real estate company with great reviews.
Instead of looking for a single Realtor, try searching your area for different real estate companies! Google will show you a list of options, and each one should have reviews. You can even filter to see just the companies with 4+ stars. Read through some reviews for each company until you’ve found a few that seem like they could be a good match.
3 – Read their Realtor profiles and visit their social media profiles.
Once you’ve got a list of a few potential real estate companies, visit their websites! Many sites will have a page that lists their agents and Realtors, including a photo and a blip about who they are! If any of these bios stick out to you, try to find that Realtor on Facebook or Instagram to get a better feel for their personality. If you can’t find the individual, try to find their company! By looking on social media, you may be able to tell if you have any mutual friends with any of the Realtors you found online.
4 – Ask your friends and family.
While you’re researching, reach out to the people you know! Almost everyone has used a Realtor at some point in time. So, start gathering some referrals from those around you! Be sure to ask your friends and family whether they used the Realtor to buy or sell, and try to have them describe the process to you. Was it easy? Was the Realtor helpful? Did they go above and beyond? Did they take the time to answer questions? You may find the right agent for you by asking around!
5 – Call or meet with a few different Realtors before you choose.
Between the Realtors you find from looking online and the names you gather from family and friends, create a short list of your top picks! Make sure to find contact information (whether a company or personal phone number, email, or a message on social media) for the Realtors you think you’d like to work with. Reach out and try to set up a time to talk on the phone or meet in person to discuss your needs! A simple phone call can help you tell whether or not the person would be a good match for you.
Once you find the right Realtor for you, it’s all downhill from there! At least here at Edge Realty, we try to make the process (whether hunting, buying, or selling) as stress-free as possible for all of our customers. As real estate professionals, our job is to take the hard work off your shoulders, and that’s just what we do. Want to meet some of our Central Arkansas Realtors? Just visit our Meet the Team page!